This year Southport Yacht Club proudly hosted the Australian Sailing Queensland Yachting Championships as an inclusion of racing in the Yacht Sales Co Sail Paradise 2024 Regatta supported by Experience Gold Coast.

The event kicked off with a festive atmosphere at the Main Beach venue before shifting focus to the start line, where excellent weather set the stage for competitive racing. Crews traveled to the Gold Coast from Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, and the Whitsundays, eager to compete and enhance their offshore sailing skills in preparation for the upcoming Rolex Sydney Hobart. By the end of the first day’s third race, the competition among the IRC Queensland Yachting Championship contenders was intense. The second day began with similarly favorable conditions, but racing became challenging when GCCM ‘Arctic Blonde’ suffered damage from a collision, ending their race. The IRC standings were closely contested among ‘Black Diamond,’ ‘Stratacare Racing Flyaway,’ ‘Let’s Get It On Filabe,’ and ‘Wedgetail,’ while the PHS battle featured ‘Black Diamond,’ ‘Aramex,’ and ‘Stratacare Racing Flyaway.’

Light winds on the third day led to postponements, but participants enjoyed sightings of whales and dolphins off Broadbeach, resulting in just one final race being held.

After such thrilling racing at Sail Paradise for the Queensland Yachting Championships, it’s only fitting that Southport Yacht Club will host this event again in 2025, with the National Yachting Championships set for 2026. If you experienced the excitement of this prestigious event and the vibrant atmosphere of the Sail Paradise Regatta this year, be sure not to miss out on competing next year and the year after!

Final Results for the 2024 Queensland Yachting Championships: 

IRC https://www.topyacht.net.au/results/2024/sailparadise/2024SPIRC/SGrp6.htm?ty=24057

PHS
https://www.topyacht.net.au/results/2024/sailparadise/2024SPIRC/SGrp5.htm?ty=80470

Photography Credit: Salty Dingo Media